Secondary Elimination generally follows the following form:
General Mechanism: A base attacks a Hydrogen neighboring the leaving group, pushing the electrons into the double bond as the leaving group leaves.
Rate Equation: Rate = kr[R-X][B]
Points to Watch:
| Solvent Effects: | Solvent polarity is unimportant. Can work in a wide variety of solvents |
| Substrate Effects: | Highly substituted substrates work best 3 deg > 2 deg. Primary and methyl halides don't react. |
| Stereochemistry: | Must occur with antiperiplanar stereochemistry. |
| Effect of Base: | Base strength is important because the base is involved in the rate-determining step |
| Rearangements: | Since E2 does not go by carbocation intermediate, no rearangements can occur. |
| Leaving Group | Good leaving group required (ie. halide, tosylate, etc) |
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